Potted plant container provided with means for the self-regulated administration of liquid

Abstract

 A container for cultivating and then displaying ornamental plants and flowers comprises an outer vessel essentially divided into two parts, namely a lower part for containing water and an upper part for receiving the soil and the plant roots, said parts being separated by a horizontal wall through which clay elements extend into said parts.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a potted plant container provided with means for the self-regulated administration particularly of water and/or nutrient liquid. Hereinafter, reference will be made only to water for simplicity.

[0002] It finds particular but not exclusive application in the plant nursery sector and in the production of accessories therefor.

[0003] Flower pots are well known in the state of the art, they being in various sizes depending on the dimensions of the plant concerned.

[0004] Such pots can be constructed of different materials, depending on their final use. In this respect, they range from containers of pressed cardboard and moulded plastic, widely used in cultivation processes, to traditional flower pots of pressed and fired clay, which being of greater ornamental merit are intended mainly for the final consumer. Such containers can have various shapes, of which the most widespread is the classical upwardly-open inverted frusto-conical shape. All pots comprise one or more holes in their base, these substantially performing the function of draining the irrigation water, however they also feed the plant by allowing a certain water intake from the underlying region. This is particularly facilitated by the presence of a separate, generally plastic collection dish, of greater diameter than the base, located below the pot to collect, via the outlet hole, the excess water distributed over the soil contained in said pot.

[0005] Said arrangements have drawbacks both for the plant and flower producer, and for the final consumer, especially with regard to irrigation methods. As producers have to control an indefinite number of plants, they must be able to provide complex irrigation systems which take account of the various requirements of each type of plant, which has its own feed cycle. This involves a considerable investment, particularly in economical terms, which is often not within the ability of a single producer. Moreover, plant producers have always neglected the appearance of the container, even though there is a firm market requirement to be able to purchase a product already contained in a pot of pleasing appearance.

[0006] However there is no doubt that the problem of irrigation is that most felt by the consumer. In this respect, he is obliged to water them periodically, an operation which requires both time and his regular presence. These requirements are incompatible with the habits of a modern family, which is very often absent from home for long periods during holidays and festivities.

[0007] Automatic irrigation systems are among those which are considered to have solved this problem. However, apart from their economical aspect, which in this case even though not dimensioned for professional use has a considerable effect, they require careful maintenance and are not widely accepted because of their limited use, which is mainly outside a closed environment. A second aspect is their rather complicated and not always optimum operation, together with the need for complex installation work.

[0008] Low-cost water administration devices are also known for individual application to each plant, they comprising an overturned vessel with its mouth driven into the ground, or dripping systems using capillaries. It is also know to insert clay blocks of high water accumulation into the soil. The water quantity is regulated by a mechanical or electro-mechanical device. From the practical viewpoint, these systems difficultly reflect the real requirements of the plant.

[0009] Parallel with the production of terracotta pots, there is a large production of coloured decorated ceramic containers of pleasant appearance.

[0010] One purpose of these is to replace the aesthetically poor pot in which the plant was originally potted, so requiring the consumer to perform the considerable work of transplant or re-plant into a more pleasant pot, with all the ensuing risks, from possible harm to the plant, to breakage of the container.

[0011] A further purpose is substantially to also contain the terracotta pot by hiding it, in order to enable the plant to be displayed. This is necessary particularly in the case of certain clay containers, which are very often rough and covered with salts which give the pot a rather poor appearance. To overcome this, certain firms in this sector subject the pot to special treatment, but this method is not convenient because it prevents the necessary air exchange.

[0012] Finally, to embellish the traditional terracotta flower pot without using a ceramic container, the consumer can now use an embossed paper cover available in the main colours. The purpose of this paper is merely to cover the perimeter of the pot surface, to hide the lime deposit and other unattractiveness. Although it is advantageous cost-wise, it has a very limited life, being frequently in contact with jets of water, causing it to lose its rigidity and coloration.

[0013] An object of this invention is to obviate the aforesaid drawbacks.

[0014] This and further objects are attained by the invention in accordance with the characteristics of the accompanying claims. The container of the invention consists of an outer vessel essentially divided into two parts, namely a lower part for containing water and an upper part for receiving the soil and the plant roots, said parts being separated by a horizontal wall. The wall is removably supported by an internal step on the vessel.

[0015] Clay elements are also provided, which pass through said wall and have their lower end immersed in the water and their upper end at least partly embedded in the soil.

[0016] Said clay elements are preferably of tubular form. An effective plant irrigation system is obtained by virtue of the water, the water absorption being self-regulated in relation to the climatic and environmental conditions in general.

[0017] The only action required of the user is the occasional topping-up with water, the level of which can be observed through a window. Other advantages relate to the ability to use containers of particularly pleasant appearance, and which can be directly supplied to the nursery without the need to re-pot the plant or use expedients for enriching the pot appearance.

[0018] These and further advantages will be apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Figure 1 is a section on the line J-J of Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through an alternative structure of the container of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the container of Figure 1.

[0019] The figures show the container 100, consisting of an essentially cylindrical vessel 1, the wall 2 of which extends to a certain height, and a base 3, the extrados of which is provided with a circular support foot 4. The cylindrical vessel 1 has two different diameters so as to define two parts, namely a lower part forming the water reservoir 5, and an overlying part 6 forming the soil compartment. An annular step 7 is provided between the two parts.

[0020] Preferably the wall of the part 6 is opaque as it is intended to contain the plant roots, whereas the wall of the underlying part 5, which is to contain the water, is at least partly transparent to enable the water level to be read. Reference notches can be provided on the wall to indicate the minimum and maximum available water level.

[0021] A round separator disc 8 preferably of fired clay construction is simply rested and hence supported on the annular step 7. In the disc 8 there is provided at least one hole 9, within which there is inserted a tube 10 or other equivalent means provided with considerable porosity. In the illustrated example there are provided three holes and three cylindrical tubes constructed of pressed or drawn clay which is then fired. Said tubes 10 act as transferring oxygenators, in that a part of them, namely their lower end below the disc 8, is immersed in the water contained in the part 5, their upper part above the separator disc 8 being partly buried in the soil in contact with the plant roots.

[0022] To occasionally top-up the lower reservoir, the user can feed water through the communication holes provided by the tubes 10, via their upper mouth 11 which projects just above the soil surface, in a preferred embodiment the lower mouths of each tube 10 being slightly spaced from the vessel base 3.

[0023] A possible modification is shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment, the container 200 comprises a cylindrical structure 201 open on both sides, and provided with an annular recess 202 forming an annular support means for a separator disc 203. At the base of the structure 201 there is a vessel 204 consisting of a normal reservoir which can be topped up in the traditional manner with water.

[0024] The disc 203 comprises a cylindrical lower appendix 205 to be immersed in the reservoir 204 which, by virtue of the porosity of its material, enables the water particles to migrate upwards. On the upper side of the disc 203 there are at least two conical porous elements intended to remain completely embedded in the soil, in contact with the plant roots. Again in this case, the material used in the construction of the disc 203, of the lower dipping means 205 and of the upper elements 206, is preferably clay which is pressed and then fired.

[0025] Finally the construction material of the outer vessel 201 or of the cylindrical structure 204 is independent of the material of the transferring means, hence any material can be chosen. For example glazed and decorated ceramic, coloured and pressed glass, stainless steel, wood, or moulded and decorated plastics of various kinds and of any shape can be used, provided the material has an ornamental value.

Claims

1. A potted plant container (100, 200), characterised by comprising a vessel (1, 201) divided into two parts by a porous material horizontal wall (8, 203) associated with lower appendices (10, 205) immersed in the water contained in the lower part, and with upper appendices (10, 206) received in the soil contained in the upper part of the vessel.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said horizontal wall (8, 203) is provided with at least one hole (9) through which a porous material rod (10) is inserted having its lower end immersed in water and its upper end received in the soil.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the lower part of the vessel is open lowerly to receive a separate removable reservoir (204) for containing water.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the wall of the vessel (1, 201) has two different diameters, which form a step (7, 202) on which the horizontal wall (8, 203) rests.

5. A container as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that at least one rod (10) is holed axially to enable the water to be topped up through that end which projects just above the soil surface.

6. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the wall of the upper part (6) of the vessel (1) is opaque whereas the wall of the lower part (5) is at least partly transparent for reading the liquid level.

Drawing